Jimmy Savile ‘could have abused 1,000 youngsters’ while at the BBC

Jimmy Savile may have abused 1,000 young boys and girls while at the BBC as ‘the establishment’ turned a blind-eye to his crimes, it has been claimed.

Savile, who died aged 84 in 2011, ‘rarely had a quiet day’ during his decades with the broadcaster, according to an expert close to an investigation into his abuse.

Peter Saunders, chief executive of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood charity – which has been consulted by the Dame Janet Smith review – said Savile had been protected by people who should have exposed his behaviour.

‘I think the 1,000 figure is based on 50 years of him offending. It has been said that he didn’t have a quiet day in his life,’ he said.

‘There wasn’t a day when he wasn’t up to something, so 1,000 might not be far from the truth.

‘I have heard a lot over the last 18 months and talked to Jimmy Savile’s victims, and I have lost count of the number of people who have said they knew about the nature of the man.